Ajax/Javascript - File Download

Question

Client (Request through XMLHttpRequest) -> Server.
Server [Builds CSV and prints it on the output stream of response] -> Client.

Now step 3 should be-> Client's browser should show a download dialogue (save, open and cancel). Since the content type is plain text from the server, and the content disposition is not set, can we create a file using javascript and prompt the user to download?

I know this question is slight stupid. But there is no other option. I have to do it this way.

Changing in the server side script will make it a one minute task. But I have to do it in the client side. The responseText property of the XMLHttpRequest object will be plain text and I have to show download prompt for the text file.

Is this possible?

Niet the Dark Absol · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-09 03:38:34Z

1

Not that I'm aware of. But you could just use location.href (or a form, if POST data is needed) to request the server-side file. With the correct headers (Content-Disposition: attachment and I think there's another one) you can have the response be downloaded rather than displayed.

EDIT: Even better, use an iframe that's hidden. That way, you can still do a fancy "Loading, please wait" thing in the main page.

answered Nov 9, 2012 at 3:38

Niet the Dark Absol

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Manak Kapoor · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-09 03:47:16Z

1

Theoretically it could be possible, by using Data URI's

<a download = "yourfile.csv" href="data:application/octet-stream;charset=YOURCHARSET;base64,BASE64allthedata">Generate</a>

answered Nov 9, 2012 at 3:47

Manak Kapoor

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Ranjan Sarma Over a year ago

Sir is it actually implemented in HTML 5 and not in lower versions ? (I mean download attribute of <a>). Thanks for the reply.

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